Female student in class

Department of English and Cultural Studies

Our English And Cultural Studies Program

The undergraduate and graduate English programs offered at Western New England University prepare students to read carefully, think critically, and communicate persuasively. Our students become engaged, independent thinkers with the discipline to shape their own insights into meaningful creative and scholarly work. The result is a set of versatile skills that serve our graduates well in a wide variety of fields including education, fiction-writing, journalism and publishing, law, and business. Students of the department have gone on to have various achievements and even present at conferences across the country.

The department offers three programs for undergraduates: American StudiesCreative Writing, and English. At the graduate level, it oversees the Master of Arts in English for Teachers program. English majors may also pursue study in the Secondary Education program in conjunction with the Department of Education. The department offers a minor in Spanish.

Members of the Department of English faculty are accomplished scholars, writers, and poets who are actively engaged in the creative and scholarly pursuits for which we train our students. First and foremost, though, the faculty members are teachers and mentors to our majors. Small classes and individual relationships allow faculty to work closely with students to set them on a course for success in their studies and beyond.

Additional Opportunities

The Writing Center offers one-on-one services by College Reading & Learning Association (CRLA) levels I and II certified tutors. Tutors will work with students on writing and reading assignments in any course and at any stage in the writing process. Students may meet with a tutor on a regular basis, schedule an appointment when needed, or take advantage of walk-in tutoring services.

The Department's own Common Ground Review is a twice yearly publication of well-crafted poems, short stories, and creative nonfiction. The Review welcomes submissions each spring.

Submit to the Annual Poetry Contest

College of Arts and Sciences News

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Head shot of Professor Jason Seacat in front of Hermann Hall

Flying With Kids Frustrating? WNE Professor Jason Seacat Weighs In on the Real Problem

Traveling with children can be stressful for everyone involved, but is the chaos really the kids’ fault—or the parents’? Dr. Jason Seacat, a psychology professor at Western New England University, offers insights into why some parents may struggle to manage their children’s behavior during flights.

University News, Arts and Sciences, Faculty
Brenda Garton in foreground in front of tables at the Basketball Hall of Fame.

WNE’s Brenda Garton-Sjoberg and Husband Honored for Outstanding Community Service

Brenda Garton-Sjoberg, and her husband, John Sjoberg, were celebrated at the Rotary Club of West Springfield’s Service Above Self luncheon. The couple was recognized for their unwavering dedication to community service and their efforts to make a lasting impact on the lives of others.

University News, Arts and Sciences, Faculty
Headshot of Professor Dan Bevacqua.

Professor Dan Bevacqua Shines in The Paris Review: Celebrating Literary Excellence and Creative Writing Leadership 

Professor of English and Director of the Creative Writing Program Dan Bevacqua discusses publication of his story “Daughters,” inThe Paris Review, his creative process and his joy working with WNE students.

University News, Arts and Sciences, Faculty